File fastener



Dec. 9, 1947.

R. E. GOOLEY 2,432,409

FILE FASTENER Filed April 24, 19.45

' INVENTOR 75.4w E en/e ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILE FASTENER Robert E. Gooley, Oradell, N. J. Application April 24, 1945, Serial No. 590,085

6 Claims. (01. 24-453) This invention relates to fasteners adapted for use in binding files and particularly to a fastener having an improved keeper to lock and cover the prongs of the fastener.

File fasteners of the type to which the present invention relates include a base with prongs at the ends thereof which may be inserted through holes punched in the sheets to be bound. To hold the file securely, various forms of keepers have been devised. These usually have openings through which the prongs pass and holding devices adapted to engage and lock the ends of the prongs. Keepers are often relatively expensive. Usually considerable manipulative skill is required to operate them effectively. Many of the proposed forms of keepers are inefiective and practically useless.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive device which can be applied with the minimum of skill and effort to lock and cover the prongs of a fastener affording a comparatively smooth surface on the face of the file and avoiding possibility of loosening of the fastener in the file and the tearing of sheets by contact with free ends of the prongs.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means to facilitate manipulation of the keeper so that it may be used with a minimum of effort and skill to accomplish its intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a sectional view through a file illustrating the application of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view indicating the application of the keeper to the file;

Mg. 4 is a plan view of the keeper;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'I'I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of the keeper;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is another fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of the keeper; and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I I--Il of Fig. 10.

The fastener comprises a base 5 having prongs a 6 which project through holes I in a file 8 consisting of the sheets to be bound. The prongs 9 are bent toward each other above the file 8 to hold the sheets together. The fastener may be made of any suitable material. It is preferably formed of metal such as a low carbon steel which may be bent readily and has only slight elasticity. Other materials may, however, be used.

The keeper 9 is also preferably formed of steel or other metal. Any sheet material which is sufficiently resistant to abrasion and wear and is stiff and resilient may, however, be employed in the manufacture of the keeper.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2-7 inclusive of the drawings, the keeper 9 consists of a strip of material having a body portion 9a and a central flap I0 adapted to overlie the portions of the prongs 6 which are bent upon the top of the file 8 and lugs I I and I2 extending at right angles to the base portion 9a of the keeper and separated from the central flap I 0 by slots I 3 and I4 which are adapted to receive the prongs 6 as the lugs II and I2 are inserted beneath them so that the central flap I0 covers the ends of the prongs. stiffen-- ing ribs I5 may be formed in the lugs II and I2 and similar stifiening ribs It may be formed in the base of the keeper if desired, though such ribs are not essential. As shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the central flap I 0 has a portion I I struck up from thebody thereof and forming a channel on its under side which is adapted to receive the prongs 6. At its lower edge the portion I I merges into the body of the keeper 9 in a relatively abrupt shoulder I8. At its upper edge, the shoulder I9 is inclined at an acute angle so that it will slide readily over the tongues 6 when the keeper is withdrawn from lookin position.

At one end of the keeper, an extension 20 is provided which may be of any suitable shape, preferably substantially as shown in the drawing, with a raised portion 2| at the center thereof which may be serrated as indicated in the drawing in order that the finger of the operator resting thereon may readily move the keeper into and out of locking position. Preferably the edges of the extension 20 are slightly upturned as shown in somewhat exaggerated form in the drawing to provide a dished effect so that the lower surface of the extension is rounded and thus slips readily over the sheet material beneath it. The opposite end of the keeper is preferably provided with a notch 22 which is adapted to engage the contiguous prong 6 when the keeper is applied.

The procedure in applying the keeper will be apparent upon reference to Fig. 3. The ends of the prongs 6 being bent above the top sheet of the file 8, the lug II is inserted beneath the prong at the left, so that the prong rests in the notch 22. The prong enters the slot I3 and the flap I0 overlies the ends of the prongs. The keeper is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow until the other prong enters the slot I i. The lug l2 will pass beneath the prong, and the keeper assumes the position indicated in Fig. 2 in which the ends of the prongs are covered and securely held. 7, Theresiliency of the prongs is such that they are held in the channel beneath the portion ll of the keeper ii). In applying the keeper, the finger of the operator may rest upon the extension 29 and the desired movement can be efiected by slight frictional pressure, it being unnecessary to use the fingernails of the operator in order to move the keeper to locking position. The keeper-may be removed similarly. The pressure applied by the finger against the extension 29 in moving the keeper or retainer 9 to its respective positions is beyond the prong 6 and hence does not affect operation. Owing to the provision of the sloping shoulder [55, the keeper will slide readily over the tongues as the keeper is withdrawn from looking position.

'As indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, the extension 23 which is similar to the extension 28, being-slightly dished, may have a rib 2 thereon to facilitate operation. The structure otherwise is identical with that previously described. In Figs. and 11, a further modification is illustrated in which the extension 25 is provided with a curved end 26 which may be engaged by the finger to facilitate manipulation of the keeper. The structure otherwise is that previously described.

The various forms of keepers as described are inexpensive, since they may be formed readily from strip material by the use of a die. They are particularly effective both as locking means for the prongs and in affording a cover and protection against inadvertent contact with the prongs. The latter are covered and protected and at the same time securely locked, since the keeper can be removed only by the application of the finger of the operator to move it in the desired direction. The device may be used without skill, and it can be applied and removed with slight effort and quickly.

Various changes may be made in the form and construction of the device without departing from the. invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim: I

1. An elongated keeper for use with a pronged fastener comprising a base portion, a flap extending from one side of said base portion, transversely-extending end lugs separated from the flap by slots. and an extension at one end of the keeper, said extension lyinglongitudinally opposite the flap and being spaced from the adjacent end lug by a slot into whicha prong of a fastener may be inserted, the extension having means thereon to facilitate manipulation of the keeper.

2. An elongated keeper for use with a pronged fastener comprising a base portion, a flap extending from one side of said base portion, transversely-extendin end lugs separated from the flap by slots, and an extension at one end of the keeper, said extension lying longitudinally opposite the fiap and being spaced from the adjacent end lug by a slot into which a prong of a fastener may be inserted, the extension having means thereon to facilitate manipulation of the keeper, the side of the extension opposite that having the means to facilitate manipulation being slightly rounded to enable it more readily to slide over papers in the application of the keeper.

3. An elongated keeper for use with a pronged fastener having an opening adjacent one end to receive a prong of a fastener, a laterally-extending lug adjacent the other end of the keeper, said lug being separated from the adjacent portion of the keeper by an open-ended slot, and an eXtension at the end of the keeper adjacent said lug, said extension being at the side of the lug remote fro-msaid slot and longitudinally opposite the slot and being spaced from said lug by an open-ended slot into which the prong of a fastener may be inserted, the extension having means thereon to facilitate manipulation of the keeper.

4. An elongated keeper for use with a pronged fastener having an opening adjacent one end to receive a prong of a fastener, an embossed portion on one side of the keeper forming a longitudinally-extending channel on the other side to receive the bent-over ends of a fastener, a laterally-extending lug adjacent the other end of the keeper, said lug being separated from an adjacent portion of the keeper by an open-ended slot, and an extension at the end of the keeper adjacent said lug, the extension having a slightly rounded surface on the side of the keeper having the channel to enable it to slide over papers in the application of the keeper.

5. An elongated keeper for use with a pronged fastener comprising a base portion, a flap extending from one side of said base portion, transverse ly-extendln end lugs separated from the flap by slots, and an extension at one end of the keeper, said extension lying longitudinally opposite the flap and being spaced from the adjacent end lug by an open-ended slot into which a prong of a fastener may be laterally inserted.

6. An elongated keeper for use with a, pronged fastener comprising a base portion, a flap extending from one side of said base portion, trans- Versely-extending end lugs separated from the flap by slots, and an extension extending from the base portion of the keeper at one end thereof, said extension extending from the base portion in the same direction as the adjacent end lug, lying longitudinally opposite the fiap and being spaced from the adjacent end lug by an openended slot into which a prong of a fastener may be laterally inserted, the extension having means on that portion thereof which is opposite the flap to facilitate manipulation of the keeper.

ROBERT E. GOOLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,650,002 Alver Nov. 22, 1927 2,336,681 Gooley Dec. 14, 1943 

